Marvin E. Kesterson

Marvin E. Kesterson, age 92 years, of Cape Girardeau, Mo. and Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Thursday, February 25, 2016, at Brookdale Skyline Care Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Mr. Kesterson was born July 30, 1923 in Naylor, Mo., the son of Joe and Pearl Armour Kesterson. He married Sondra Lorene Neil on July 26, 1970 in St. Louis, Mo.

A resident of Poplar Bluff from 1972 to 2011, Marvin was a graduate of Naylor High School in the class of 1941. He served in the Army from 1944 to 1946 as an Occupational Counselor in Europe and Rhineland with the 30th Infantry Division. He received a B.A. degree in Education in 1953 from Arkansas State. He completed a Master's degree in Education from Missouri University in 1956. He taught for 22 years in classes ranging from a one-room school with grades 1-12 in Naylor, Missouri, to Naylor Grade School Principal in 1947 to elementary and high school teacher in Berkeley School District and Normandy School District in St. Louis, Missouri. After retiring from education, he worked in the Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation Department for 11 years. He is a member of the First Methodist Church of Poplar Bluff, Mo. Between 1962 and 1968, he was the summer manager of the Cobalt Country Club in Maryland Heights, Missouri, where he taught his children to play tennis. Marvin loved to golf and work around his house on his tractor. When he gave up golf in his mid-80s, he continued to go to Wal-Mart each morning to walk the store and have coffee with his friends in Poplar Bluff. His family and those who knew him have been blessed by his common sense, his honesty, his work ethic, his sense of humor and his unconditional love for his family.

Survivors include: one son, Philip Kesterson of Sparta, Missouri, one daughter, Connie K. Thompson (husband, Jack) of Westcliffe, Colorado, one stepson, Mark Neil (wife, Becky) of Chesterfield, Mo. and two step-daughters, Kelly and Susan Neil of Poplar Bluff. He also has six grandchildren: Joshua Kesterson (wife, Jen), Nathan Kesterson (wife, Stephanie), Megan Hupka (husband, Ryan), Jacob Kesterson (wife, Julie), Rachel Kesterson and Sarah Kesterson. He has nine great-grandchildren: Avery Kesterson, Cole Kesterson, Eli Kesterson, Scout Kesterson, Caroline Pace, Elizabeth Kesterson, Sarah Kesterson, Matthew Kesterson, and Samuel Kesterson.

He is preceded in death by his brother, Lester B. Kesterson and his sister-in-law, Anna F. Kesterson and an infant sister.

Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. Monday, March 14, 2016 at Cotrell Funeral Chapel, 701 Vine St., Poplar Bluff, Mo. 63901 with a memorial service following at 10:00 am. A private entombment with full military honors will be at noon Monday at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the First United Methodist Church, 500 N. Main St., Poplar Bluff, MO 63901.